Director Research Strategy and Operations

Des Moines University College of Health Sciences (CHS); West Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences in West Des Moines is seeking a forward-thinking Director of Research Strategy & Operations to lead the development and execution of research initiatives that expand institutional impact. The role involves launching centers, securing funding, overseeing agreements, compliance, and technology transfer to advance a dynamic research enterprise.

The ideal candidate brings strategic vision and operational expertise, with a proven ability to turn

Qualifications

• PhD in biomedical or related field with proven academic research leadership.
• Minimum five years in academic research administration or related roles.
• Experience supervising teams and managing sponsored programs.
• Ability to translate priorities into actionable development strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of the institutional research strategy in partnership with the Chief Research Officer.
• Direct research development and sponsored programs activities, including grants and multidisciplinary collaborations.
• Provide operational leadership for research centers, shared resources, and strategic initiatives.
• Advance external partnerships, technology transfer, IP processes, and commercialization opportunities.
• Oversee budget planning, resource allocation, and compliance in research governance.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Research administration

Budget management

Cross-functional leadership

Grant development

Education

PhD in biomedical or related field

Tools

Grant management systems

Compliance tools

Job description

Director Research Strategy and Operations

Job no: 493050
Work type: FT
Location: West Des Moines
Categories: Staff

Help build what's next. We are seeking a forward-thinking Director of Research Strategy & Operations to lead the development and execution of research initiatives that expand our institutional impact. From launching research centers and securing strategic funding opportunities to overseeing research agreements, compliance, and technology transfer activities, this position offers a unique opportunity to influence the growth of a dynamic research enterprise. The ideal candidate brings both strategic vision and operational expertise, with a proven ability to turn ideas into sustainable programs.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the execution of the institutional research strategy by coordinating key initiatives, research infrastructure, service models, operational improvements, and performance metrics in partnership with the Chief Research Officer.
• Direct research development and sponsored programs activities, including strategic funding opportunities, proposal development, grant administration, faculty engagement, and multidisciplinary research collaborations.
• Provide operational leadership for research centers, shared resources, and strategic research initiatives, ensuring successful startup, sustainability, resource planning, and achievement of research goals.
• Advance external partnerships and innovation efforts through the development and management of research collaborations, sponsored research agreements, technology transfer activities, intellectual property processes, and commercialization opportunities.
• Support research enterprise growth through budget planning, resource allocation, financial oversight, institutional readiness activities, accreditation support, compliance integration, and research governance initiatives.
• Supervise research administration staff and cultivate a high-performing, service-oriented culture focused on operational excellence, accountability, collaboration, professional development, and exceptional support for researchers and institutional stakeholders.

What we are looking for:

• PhD in a biomedical, clinical, health, scientific, engineering, or closely related discipline, with demonstrated experience in academic research administration, research development, or research leadership.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in academic research administration, research development, research operations, institutional scientific programs or a comparable research-intensive environment.
• Demonstrated personnel supervision or substantial team leadership, including accountability for deliverables, performance and cross‑functional execution.
• Demonstrated experience in sponsored research administration and grants management, including pre‑award proposal development, sponsor requirements, institutional approvals, budget development, award administration, post‑award coordination, budget monitoring, financial reporting coordination, and sponsor compliance. Experience supporting complex, multidisciplinary, or institutional grant proposals.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating research agreements, institutional partnerships, intellectual property activities, or technology development initiatives, with the ability to work effectively with Legal and other specialized institutional offices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the regulatory and compliance requirements governing academic research, including human and animal subjects research, biosafety, research integrity, data privacy and security, sponsor requirements, and institutional oversight. Ability to identify regulatory risks, integrate compliance considerations into research planning and operations, and coordinate effectively with designated compliance officials.
• Experience with research budgets, resource planning, shared services or research infrastructure.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and evaluate multidisciplinary scientific research programs, translate institutional scientific priorities into actionable research development strategies, and work effectively with faculty investigators to advance competitive grant proposals, interdisciplinary collaborations, and research initiatives.

Preferred qualifications

• Additional MBA, MHA, MPH, research administration, business or commercialization training complementing the scientific or research leadership background.
• Experience with technology-transfer portfolios, licensing pathways, translational innovation, or research‑related agreement workflows.
• Experience establishing research centers, developing cost‑recovery services, building health‑system/industry collaborations, or expanding an emerging research enterprise.
• Experience working with institutional research compliance programs, regulatory reviews, sponsor audits, or research‑related accreditation and oversight processes.
• Experience managing federal, foundation, and industry‑sponsored research portfolios, including complex awards, multidisciplinary proposals, sponsor compliance requirements, and institutional grants management systems.

Total Rewards:

This position offers a competitive annual salary ranging from $110,000 to $115,000, commensurate with experience, skills, and relevant research administration leadership experience.

Our employees are what make DMU special, so we treat them well! Our Total Rewards reflect this commitment. Qualified faculty and staff enjoy a generous employer contribution toward the medical plan, 10% retirement match, flexible work arrangements, community service time, tuition assistance, professional development funding and access to wellness facilities with programs that promote a well-balanced lifestyle. Visit www.dmu.edu/employment to learn more about our benefits.

DMU is proud to offer employees generous benefits and perks, paid time off, free use of wellness facilities and a host of employee engagement and recognition programs throughout the year.

About:

Founded in 1898, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences is a premier medical and health sciences institution comprising three colleges— the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and the College of Health Sciences. DMU offers graduate‑level professional degree programs in anatomy, biomedical sciences, health care administration, medical science, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine and public health.

Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa’s capital metro, DMU provides a collaborative, student‑centered academic environment. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks in board exam performance, certification pass rates and medical residency match outcomes. Our mission is to improve lives in our global community by educating diverse groups of highly competent and compassionate health professionals.

It is an exciting time to join DMU. Our 88‑acre campus in West Des Moines brings the entire academic community together in one collaborative, future‑focused environment, while the Des Moines University Clinic serves patients within the DMU32 Health and Business Complex in downtown Des Moines. Our state‑of‑the‑art campus features technology‑rich, flexible learning environments that support innovative teaching and connect faculty and students across all of our programs. Modern research facilities include a vibrant open‑concept laboratory that fosters collaboration, accelerates discovery and empowers faculty and students to advance the health sciences.

DMU enhances our community’s quality of life by educating outstanding health professionals and leaders, providing expert and compassionate patient care, serving the community in diverse ways and contributing to the vitality of central Iowa.

At DMU, you will make a meaningful contribution to the dynamic future of medicine and health sciences by supporting a diverse community of faculty and staff with programs and services across the employee lifecycle.

Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, age, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information and other characteristics protected by law (“protected class”). For more information view the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal poster. Members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

The university is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an email to [e-mail] or call 515-271-1484 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Annual Security Report

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, Des Moines University publishes an annual security report and makes it available to all current and prospective students and employees. The report contains a description of DMU’s safety and security‑related policy statements and procedures and includes statistics of crimes reported over the past three years to DMU officials about incidents occurring on campus locations or nearby public property. The report also includes information about ways to stay safe and report security‑related incidents. You may view the current annual security report online or request a printed copy of the report by contacting the building services manager at 515-271-1471 .